Apparatus and method for manufacturing lids with tear-off foil

ABSTRACT

In the area of manufacturing covers with tear-open foils, the cover blanks, or covers are always secured against an undesired take-off from the transport means during the transport and the processing. This allows a very high manufacturing cadence equally for light covers and particularly for aluminium covers.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of Swiss patent application No.1233/08, filed Aug. 7, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an apparatus for the manufacturing of containercovers or lids, respectively, with a tear-open foil, comprising a lineartransport means for the horizontal transport of lid parts and lids alongthe manufacturing line, wherein the lids are secured against a take-offin a vertical direction along a part of the manufacturing line by meansof a guidance, at least a de-stacker arranged at the beginning of thetransport means, which delivers blank lid parts from at least one stackto the transport means, a sequence of working stations arranged alongthe transport means, optionally including a turning station, and adischarge station at the end of the linear transport means. Furthermorethe invention relates to a method for the manufacturing of containerlids or covers, respectively, with a tear-open foil. Furthermore theinvention is related to another apparatus for the manufacturing ofcovers or lids, respectively with tear-open foils with a transport meansproviding a linear transport path with successive receptions for blanklid parts formed by reception parts of the transport means. Furthermorethe invention relates to another method for the manufacturing of coversor lids, respectively with tear-open foils, the lids having differentdiameters.

PRIOR ART

It is known how to manufacture covers or lids, respectively, forcan-like or box-like containers as metal covers which are permanentlyattached on top of the package and which provide an extraction openingwhich is sealed until the first use of the container contents by meansof a foil, particularly a metal foil, applied by heat-sealing and whichcan be torn-off. An additional plastic cover which is arranged above themetal cover makes the package resealable during the period ofconsumption of its contents. Manufacturing steps during themanufacturing of such so-called tear-open or tear-off covers or lidswill be explained in the following on the basis of the FIGS. 1 to 7. Anapparatus for the manufacturing of tear-open covers of the above type isknown from WO 2006/017953. It comprises a linear transport means for thetransport of the covers within the apparatus along their manufacturingline, wherein the transport means secures the covers mechanically ormagnetically against a take-off out of the cover reception during theirhorizontal linear motion on a part of the transport path.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The mentioned apparatus has proven itself and allows the high productionrate manufacturing of ordinary covers or lids made of tinplate or sheetsteel, which can amount to for example 200 covers per minute. It ispreferable to equally reach such cadences for very light covers made oflight metal, particularly aluminium.

This task is accomplished within the aforementioned apparatus in such away, that securing means for the conveying of the covers from the blankstate to the state of finished cover throughout the apparatus, which arepermanently effective from the de-stacker to the discharge station, areprovided, which securing means always secure the cover parts against anundesired take-off from the transport means.

Also very light covers can be manufactured with high rate by means ofthe permanent securing along the manufacturing path of the cover partswhich are moved intermittently through the apparatus, thus especially asecuring in the processing stations as well as in the transfer from thede-stacker to the linear transport means and into the discharge station.In ordinary apparatus there is the risk with such light covers, that thecovers jump out of their receptions in the transport means in the areaof the processing stations because of the permanent start-up and stop ofthe transport means or because of small outside influences, which canlead to an interruption of the manufacturing.

Within a preferred apparatus, the securing means are engineered with acombination of fixed securing elements and movable securing elements,and particularly also with securing elements which act using negativepressure or vacuum, respectively. The combination of different securingmeans and securing elements, respectively, yields a continuous positiveguidance of the cover parts and covers, respectively, which isparticularly well adapted to the cover manufacturing. At the de-stacker,it is preferably carried out by means of vacuum as well as mechanicaldown holders, thus allowing the secure and constantly held delivery ofthe cover blank from the de-stacker to the linear transport means orconveying means, respectively. Then, movable securing elements arepreferred as securing means in processing stations, providing an alwayssecure holding of the cover parts despite the motion requirements in theprocessing stations. Particularly, the movable securing elements areformed by rails, which are arranged in a springy way within the upperpart of the tool and extend in transport direction, and are particularlyto be found in the cutting station and the punching station,respectively, in which the extraction opening is cut out of the coverblank. Equally, movable securing elements can be provided within aforming station and/or a rolling station and/or in an embossing station.

Within the transport means itself, the positive guidance is particularlyformed by fixed covering elements which are located on both sides of thelongitudinal transport axis, with safety plates which are bend down withrespect to the cover parts, such for example in a oiling station whichis located between the cutting station and the forming station, and alsoalong conveying sections for the cover parts in which no processingoccurs. Inasmuch as a turning station is provided, fixed infeed elementscan for example be provided as securing means for the transfer from thelinear transport means to the turning station.

Preferably both fixed and movable securing elements are particularlyprovided at the foil punching and pre-sealing station as securing meansor positive guidance, respectively, which comprise vertically springyrelocatable rails as movable securing elements in the area of the uppersealing tool and which comprise down holders as fixed securing elements,whereas a holding or a positive guidance, respectively, which acts bymeans of low pressure is provided within the lower sealing tool, thusresulting in a high reliability of the constant holding of very lightcover parts in this step which is particularly important for themanufacturing. In addition, the springy movable securing elements act asejectors from the upper tool after the processing of the cover part.

Preferably fixed and movable securing elements, which are preferablyprovided in the same combination as in the pre-sealing station, areequally provided in the main sealing station.

If an inspection station for checking the sealing joint, particularlyfor a check by thermal image evaluation, is provided, the securing meansrespectively the positive guidance are preferably formed by a vacuumguidance, thus not disturbing the view of the sealing area.

In another aspect of the invention which can be combined with the firstaspect, which however can also be applied for itself and thus equallyfor apparatus of prior art, tappets for forming the respective receptionfor the cover parts, particularly having a shape of entraining lugsarranged at a toothed belt on each side of the longitudinal central axisof the transport means with mutually different distances, are arrangedat the linear transport means in a way resulting in receptions for twocover parts of different sizes, alternating along the transport. Thisallows the use of the apparatus for cover parts of different diameterswithout refitting the apparatus, by respectively loading only thefitting receptions while the other receptions remain empty. Thetransport means then carries out transport steps with double length,such that only the receptions of the one size loaded with the coverparts come to be located stationary in the processing station and theother empty receptions of the other size are transported substantiallywithout stopping through the processing stations.

Furthermore it is the object of the invention to improve a method formanufacturing tear-open covers.

This is achieved according to a method for manufacturing covers with atear-open foil on a linear manufacturing apparatus, on which the coverblanks and the covers are being de-stacked and conveyed and at the sametime cut, possibly oiled, formed, rolled and then possibly turned, onwhich the tear-open foil is applied and pre-sealed, to which a mainsealing, possibly an inspection, a cooling, an alignment of thetear-open strap and a check is carried out, characterized in that duringthese steps a securing against an undesired take-off of the cover blanksrespectively of the cover out of their reception at the transport meansalways takes place by securing means.

Within the method, the holding is preferably carried out by fixedsecuring elements and by means of movable securing elements, andparticularly also by means of securing elements acting with a vacuum.

The securing at the de-stacker takes place particularly by means of avacuum as well as by means of down holders and movable securing partsare used for the securing in the processing stations. For example theguiding respectively the holding of the cover part takes place by meansof securing parts which are springily arranged in the upper tool part,which is particularly advantageous in a cutting station and/or a formingstation and/or a rolling station and/or a embossing station.Furthermore, in an oiling station which is located between the cuttingstation and the forming station, the securing particularly takes placeby means of fixed securing elements, particularly by means of coveringelements with guide noses which are located on both sides of thelongitudinal transport axis.

Preferably fixed and movable securing elements are used for the securingagainst the take-off during foil stamping and pre-sealing, whereinparticularly in the area of the upper sealing tool eject runners orrails which are arranged springily in the tool, are provided as movablesecuring elements and down holders are provided as fixed securingelements and a holding acting by means of a vacuum is used as positiveguidance in the lower sealing tool. The latter can be interrupted by forexample a controlled air supply.

Also for the main sealing fixed and movable securing elements arepreferably provided for holding, particularly in the area of the uppersealing tool eject runners are provided as movable securing elements anddown holders are provided as fixed securing elements and the holding inthe lower sealing tool takes place by means of low pressure, which isinterruptible particularly by means of a controlled air supply.

If an inspection station for the checking, particularly the opticalchecking, of the sealing joint is provided, the securing is preferablyprovided by means of low pressure. In case of a cooling and a strapaligning station it is proceeded in a way, that the adherence of thecover to a lower turntable takes place by means of low pressure.

Within the linear transport means with tappets which are arranged atrevolving belts, bands or chains, the positive guidance is carried outparticularly by means of cover plates with securing bridges showingdownwards, which are arranged on both sides of the longitudinal centralaxis of the transport means above the transport plane. Thereby thetappets respectively the entraining lugs are preferably arranged on eachside of the longitudinal central axis with mutually different distancesrespectively lug distances.

Furthermore the invention is related to the task of simplifying themanufacturing for cover parts with different diameters within the covermanufacturing of tear-open covers with a linear transport means withtappets arranged at bands, belts or chains, particularly according tothe described method, but equally for methods according to the priorart.

This is solved in such a way that the receptions for the tappets formingcover parts, which particularly are entraining lugs, are arranged oneach side of the longitudinal central axis with mutually different lugdistances, and that, depending on the cover diameter, a loading with thecover parts takes place either into the receptions with the one tappetdistance from each other or into the receptions with the other distancefrom each other. Thereby it is possible to allow the manufacturing fortwo different cover diameters without time consuming refitting of thetransport means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those setforth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 to FIG. 7 show sectors of tear-open covers for the explanation ofsteps for their manufacturing;

FIG. 8 shows a simplified side view of an apparatus for themanufacturing of tear-open covers by means of another order of steps;

FIG. 9 shows a top view onto the apparatus of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 shows a graphical view of the apparatus of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 shows a graphical view of an embodiment of the transport means,as known from the prior art;

FIG. 12 shows a graphical view of the receptions for the cover blanksrespectively covers at the transport means;

FIG. 13 shows a vertical section view of a part of the transport meanswith the covering with a bent down bridge for securing;

FIG. 14 shows a vertical section view of a part of the cutting processstation with movable securing elements within the upper tool;

FIG. 15 shows a vertical section view of a part of the processingstation for the forming of the edge of the extraction opening;

FIG. 16 shows a part of a processing station for the rolling of theformed edge in a partial vertical section view;

FIG. 17 shows a vertical section view of a part of a processing stationfor the punching out of the tear-open foil and its pre-sealing onto thecover ring;

FIG. 18 shows a vertical section view of a part of a processing stationfor the main sealing;

FIG. 19 shows a side section view of the securing by means by vacuum orlow-pressure, respectively, in the area of an inspection of the covers;

FIG. 20 shows the processing station for cooling and with turntable foraligning of the tear-open straps;

FIG. 21 shows a view of the transport means with entraining lugs, whichhave different distances from each other and which therefore formreceptions for covers of different sizes on the same toothed belt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The prior art for the manufacturing of metal container covers or lidswith a tear-open foil will be shortly explained by means of the FIGS. 1to 7. FIG. 1 shows stacked metal cover blanks 20 as an example for itemsas they can be found in the stack. These cover blanks 20 are for exampleround metal discs or slices, respectively, of for example 11 cm ofdiameter. Naturally, other basic shapes, for example square orrectangular slices and other diameters are possible without further ado.The cover blanks 20 have already been pre-shaped beforehand at theiredges, as shown in FIG. 1, in a processing machine not shown here. InFIG. 1 and the following figures only a sector of the entire slice isshown respectively, in order to simplify the figures. First the coverblanks 20 are released one by one from the stack by means of ade-stacker and passed on to receptions, particularly with receptionlugs, of the linear conveying means which transports the cover blanksand later the covers stepwise and brings them to the individualprocessing or working stations, respectively, whereat the linearconveying is interrupted in order for the processing to be carried out.Once the processing has been carried out on the cover parts or covers, afurther transport to the next processing station is carried out. In thefirst processing station, which subsequently will be called cuttingstation, an opening is punched into the part 20 by means of a punchingprocess with upper and lower tool, which can be seen in FIG. 2, whereinthe edge of the opening is denoted with 21 and the punched out roundslice with 27, which is disposed of as debris. The cutting station isdriven by an actuator, like it is the case for the subsequent stations.An oiling can be carried out for the next processing steps within thenext processing station along the linear transport path and then aforming of the edge 21 is carried out in the next processing station inthe figure downwards, whereby the course 22 of the edge, shown in FIG. 3is reached (in case of a modified following embodiment, whereby thecover blanks initially lie turned by 180°, the forming would on theother hand be carried out in the figure “upwards”). Afterwards thering-shaped cover blanks 20 reach a processing station, in which a foilis placed over the opening of the cover and attached there by means ofhot-sealing, which can be seen in the FIGS. 4 and 5. The tear-off foilcan be a metal foil, a plastic foil or a combined foil including layersof metal and plastic material. The foil 25 is provided with a plasticlayer on its bottom side that provides for the heat sealing. Therequired round foil cut 25 is normally itself punched out of a wide foilweb in the heat sealing station and placed over the central recess ofthe ring-shaped slice and the foil is pressed at the edge of the roundrecess of the part 20 by the heating effect of the heat sealing station,such that the foil 25 is tightly jointed with the metal cover 20 bymelting and subsequent cooling of the plastic layer. This is known andwill not be explained in more detail here. Particularly the steps canequally be carried out in two stations, wherein in one station apunching of the foil and a pre-sealing of it to the cover ring and in asubsequent main sealing station the final sealing is carried out. Afurther processing station can be provided for the cooling. The foil 25may be provided with an embossing 24 (FIG. 6) in a further processingstation and in the following the edge 22 is beaded as the final edge 23(in the following described embodiment this beading respectivelyrounding step is on the other hand carried out after directly after theforming of the edge). Now, within an inspection station, which should beequally termed processing station, the finished covers undergo achecking, which comprises a leak testing for the peel-off foil 25 whichis attached onto the cover and/or an optical checking by means of a heatdetection camera which can detect insufficiently heated parts of thesealing joint. If the foil is attached to the rest of the metal cover ina leak proof way, the cover ends up in the discharge station. If a leakis detected, the cover ends up on a chute, into a debris bin or anappropriate elimination is carried out at the exit of the station.

The FIGS. 8, 9, 10 now show in a simplified side view as well as topview and in a graphical representation an embodiment of the apparatusfor manufacturing tear-open covers according to the invention in asimplified manner. Thereby, particularly the de-stacker is shown in asimplified way and the processing stations are only indicated insofar,that at their position the respective cover blank to be processesrespectively cover is shown above the transport means, because theprocessing station has lifted the cover blank or the cover,respectively, for processing from its reception in the transport means.The individual processing stations and the de-stacker are basicallybuilt for the processing operations and for the de-stacking according tothe prior art and are known to the skilled person and therefore do nothave to be discussed in detail here. But the securing of the cover partsand covers, respectively, along the manufacturing path will be shownmore precisely in the following. In this example the stations arearranged one after the other according to the sequence in themanufacturing path as discussed in the following. Here, a slightlymodified manufacturing sequence along the manufacturing path isdescribed as compared to the example of FIG. 1 to FIG. 7.

In this example the apparatus 1 has a transport means 3 with twoparallel transport paths, such that two streams of covers can bemanufactured at once. Equally, only one transport path or more than twotransport paths could be provided. The transport means has, particularlyfor each transport path, two rotatingly actuated toothed belts which arearranged parallel in a distance from each other, to which lugs areattached, not being shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10. Two pairs of opposedlugs provide a reception for a cover part or cover, as known from theinternational patent application WO 2006/017953, which contents areincorporated herein by reference. For the purpose of a short explanationof such a transport means 3, FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show in a graphicalmanner a transport means which is used for the sequential conveying ofthe covers to the individual processing stations. These processingstations are also not shown in FIG. 11, however it is clear for theskilled person how they can be arranged along the conveying device inorder to carry out the respective processing. In FIG. 11 equally twotransport paths are shown. They can be actuated by means of the samedrive 33, 37 or they can each posses an own drive. By means of the showntransport means the cover parts or covers can be conveyed to theprocessing stations with a high rate of for example 200 covers perminute and with exactly reproducible step lengths. Furthermore aflexible concept for a large array of formats of the covers results,which can reach from for example a diameter of 50 to 200 mm for roundcovers and which can also take on various rectangular formats, forexample for the usual fish cans. In this way, the transport means isexecuted as a compact module for a one path or, as shown, a multiplepaths setup.

Within the shown preferred arrangement, the transport means has twotoothed belts 31 and 32, which are particularly located with theirsurfaces in the same plane, thus run coplanar, and which are guided viadeflection rollers at the beginning and at the end of the conveyingdevice, such that an endless toothed belt actuator with the lengthrequired for the number of processing stations results. The stepwisemotion of the toothed belt, which is synchronised with the processingstations, is caused by a step motor or servo motor which actuates thetoothed belts by means of tooth rollers, as can be seen in FIG. 11 withthe motor 33 and the drive shaft 38. If further transport paths areprovided, their toothed belts can be actuated by means of the same motorvia further drive shafts or possess an own motor. The motor 33 iscontrolled by means of a controller 37 for the undertaking of thestepwise forward motion of the toothed belt, which controller 37 iseither an entire controller of the cover manufacturing apparatus, whichequally controls the processing stations, or which controller 37 is acontroller for only the transport means, which communicates with asuperordinate controller for the cover manufacturing apparatus. Themotor 33 and the further actuator components for the toothed belts arearranged at a machine frame which is indicated in the figure only by thefeet 35. The tappets for taking up the covers, particularly provided byentraining lugs, are attached at the toothed belts, forming thereceptions for the covers and which are generally labelled with 40 inFIG. 11, wherein the opposed tappets of the toothed belts 31 and 32 forma reception for the respective cover part or cover, respectively. Thisreception, formed by the tappets 40, is moved by means of the toothedbelt motion along the conveying path and in direction of the shown arrowC from the beginning of the transport means, which here is located onthe motor side, to the discharge side at the deflection roller 36, wherethe discharge station for the covers is located. In the shown embodimenta covering 50 is provided respectively above the toothed belt and abovethe lugs 40, which covers the toothed belt and a part of the lugrespectively, which will be discussed in more detail in the following.In the area of the processing stations the covering 50 has respectivelya recess 52, which allows a taking out of the objects from thereceptions in order for the object to be lifted from the lug andprocessed in the processing station and subsequently given back to thereception. Usually no recesses 52 are provided between the processingstations, such that the take-off of the objects from the lugs is blockedby the covering in that area. Additionally to the blocking of thetake-off by means of the covering 50, the tappets can be magneticallyformed, which can also prevent a take-off of the objects during theconveying step, if the object consists at least partly of a magneticallygripable material. It is preferred that the mutual distance of thetoothed belts 31 and 32 is adjustable, whereby the distance of theopposed lugs 40 of both toothed belts is adjustable in order to adaptthe transport means to different object sizes. For this purpose crossconnections 58 can be provided at the transport means, which allow asimple adjustment of the mutual distance of the toothed belts. The driveshafts 38 are arranged accordingly, in order to make this distanceadjustment possible. In FIG. 12 the tappets, which are generallylabelled with 40, are shown as entraining lugs 41 and 41 on the toothedbelt 32 and as entraining lugs 43 and 44 on the toothed belt 31 and itis evident how the cover ring 20 is carried and transportable by theentraining lugs, wherein the tappets allow the upward take-off of thecover ring respectively of the cover, which is necessary within theprocessing stations and also allow the loading from the top within thede-stacker.

The mutual distances of the entraining lugs on the respective toothedbelt are given by the division of the toothed belt and the tappetattachment. This distance can be changed in such a way for an adjustmentto the cover size, that the toothed belts are changed with a set ofother toothed belts with entraining lugs which are attached in anothermutual distance. In this way a large reception size range for covers canbe created by mutual distance adjustment of the toothed belts and bychanging the toothed belts with differently spaced tappets. In this way,a refitting to different object sizes for all tappets can be carried outsimultaneously. However, in the following a further aspect of theinvention will be explained, which allows the processing of covers ofdifferent sizes in another way which makes the changing of the toothedbelts for the manufacturing of covers with two different diametersobsolete.

The tappets 41 to 44 are attached to the toothed belt in a known way, bytaking off the respective tooth of the toothed belt and changing it withan attaching element which is screwed to the tappets. This way ofattachment is known to the skilled person and will not be further shownhere. Surely, all further attachment possibilities of tappets to toothbelts are equally applicable, like for example the adhesive bondingattachment of tappets.

Coming back to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 it is shown that at the beginning ofsuch a transport means 3 a de-stacker 4 is provided, which releases thecover blanks 20 downwards from two stacks in a cyclic way and thereforepasses them one by one to the respective ready receptions of thetransport means 3. In this example this is carried out with a startposition of the cover blanks which is turned by 180°, such that the sideof the cover blanks which is supposed to be provided with the tear-openfoil first comes to lie downwards in FIG. 1 and a turning has to occuralong the transport path, when the tear-open foil is applied from thetop. This will be discussed in the following. FIGS. 9 and 10respectively show a cover blank 20 in the respective reception of thetransport means 3 underneath the de-stacker. From this position 2 a onalong the manufacturing path up to the discharging of the finishedcovers, the cover blanks are all the time secured against an undesiredtake-off and falling out of the reception. In a preferred way securingthe cover blanks in the reception underneath the de-stacker is providedsuch that underneath both receptions air is being sucked in and thus alow pressure is created beneath the cover blanks. After the securing byvacuum in this way which just acts in this position 2 a, a central downholder 6 which is arranged above and with little distance to therespective cover blank, is preferably arranged for example in the shapeof a large rail which is attached to the bottom side of the de-stacker.This down holder acts for securing while the covers blanks are movingfrom the position 2 a to the following position 2 b. However, ifnecessary, the securing extends by means of the low pressure also fromthe area of de-stacking further in longitudinal direction of thetransport means respectively further along the manufacturing path, atbest partly intersecting with the securing by the down holder 6. Beforethe down holder 6 ends in longitudinal direction, side guidances 5 takeover the securing against the take-off of a cover blank, which istransported stepwise from the position 2 a beneath the de-stacker intoboth further positions 2 b and 2 c, wherein no processing occurs.According to FIG. 13 (which only shows a single side of the reception),the side guidances 5 are (compared to the coverings 50 according to theprior art in FIG. 11) arranged in such a way, that they provide a bridge5′ which points downwards in the direction of the cover blank 20 and thereception of the transport means. This leads to a good securing againstthe take-off of the cover blank during the conveying by the transportmeans. Afterwards, with the next transport step, the cover blank 20reaches the position 2 d, wherein a stopping occurs again and the coverblank has reached the processing station 7, wherein the cutting off ofthe part 27 takes place (FIG. 2). This takes place in a known way,wherein the processing station moves the cover blank out of thereception upwards, whereafter the cutting respectively the punchingoperation takes place according to the prior art by means of an uppertool and a lower tool respectively of stamp and stencil. The securingagainst the take-off in the position 2 d takes place by means of movablesecuring elements, which are formed by down holders 18 within the uppertool, which, in the shown example of FIG. 13, are arranged springy invertical direction and which extend in longitudinal direction of thetransport means, as indicated in FIG. 9. These down holders 18 secureagainst a take-off of the cover blank by ending, in their idle position,in a small distance above the cover blank (by means of a stroke which isnot shown, which limits the way downwards of the down holder 18 in thefigure). The down holders 18 start and end along the transport path insuch way, that they are arranged in an intersecting way with thecoverings 5 (FIG. 9), such that a continuous securing during thetransport of the cover blank from the position 2 c into the processingposition 2 d and after the processing into the further position 2 eresults. The down holders 18, which are arranged upwards resilientlywith the springs 19, contact the cover blank during its lift up by thelower tool when the cover blank is brought into the processing positionabove the reception in the transport means, however they springilyretract, such that no hindering of the lift up by the lower toolresults; however the down holders avoid an undesired take off of thecover ring just by its transport motion or outer influences before andafter the lower tool has lifted up respectively has put down again thecover ring. In FIG. 8 and FIG. 10 the cutting respectively theprocessing station 7 is only shown by the cover blank 20 which is shownabove its reception.

In the position 2 e an oiling of the cover blank 20 can be carried outas a processing step, as preparing step for the subsequent forming ofthe edge (FIG. 3), wherein the securing against the take-off can becarried out for the oiling in the processing station 8 by means of thecovering 5 and the bridge 5′, as shown in FIG. 12.

The forming of the edge of the extraction opening of the tear-open cover(FIG. 3) takes place in the position 2 f along the transport path, forwhich also an upper and a lower tool are provided within a processingstation 8, as shown in FIG. 14. For the securing against the take-off ofthe cover blank before its holding within the tool itself, movable downholders are preferably provided analogue to the solution at the cuttingprocess station. A vertical section view of the forming process station9 is shown in FIG. 14, wherein movable down holders 18 are equallyprovided. Thereby the springs are not shown in this section view. Afterthe processing of the edge of the extraction opening by the forming, atransport of the cover blank with the formed edge into the position 2 g,in which no processing occurs, is carried out, while with this transportstep the subsequent cover blank comes into the position 2 f. In theposition 2 g the securing against the take-off is carried out again withthe covering 5 and the bridge 5′, as shown in FIG. 13. This securingintersects in transport direction with the down holders 18 of theforming process station, such that a continuous respectively anuninterrupted securing results.

Thereafter a conveying of the cover blank 20 from the position 2 g intothe processing station 10 respectively into the position 2 h takes placewith the next transport step of the transport means, wherein the rollingof the formed edge is carried out. As a difference to FIG. 1 to 7 therolling (FIG. 6) therefore occurs in this embodiment already now, beforethe tear-open foil is sealed. Again, within the rolling process station10 movable down holders are provided as a securing against the take-offpreferably in the upper tool, particularly springily movable downholders 18 with springs 19, as can be seen in the vertically cut partview of this processing station according to FIG. 15.

Subsequently a further step of the transport occurs with the transportinto the turning station 11 respectively the position 2 i. The coverblank, which has previously been processed as a cover ring with formedand rolled edge, is turned by 180° in the turning station, as can beseen in FIG. 8. A taking out of the cover ring from its reception iscarried out by means of the turning station. Thereby a securing is givenby the transport means preferably during the insertion, in such a waythat the down holders 18 of the rolling process station reach so faralong the transport means, that the cover ring is secured until it isitself held within the turning station; however it can also have ownsecuring means during the insertion into the turning station. During thehanding over from the turning station, after the turning, into the readyreception of the transport means in the position 2 j, a securing by theturning station takes place until the securing along the transport pathin the positions 2 k and 2 l is again taken over by for example acovering 5 with the bridge 5′, as can be seen in FIG. 9. After that, thecover ring reaches the punching and pre-sealing station 12 respectivelythe position 2 m, being now arranged with that side up, which has to besupplied with a tear-open foil. In the punching and pre-sealing stationthe securing against an undesired take-off from the reception takesplace preferably my means of movable securing elements which are formedby rotatable securing bars, as can be seen in FIG. 16. The barsconstitute the securing against take-off when inserting the cover ringinto this processing station in a position rotated downwards. During theappliance of the round foil, which has been punched out of a foil web ofthe tear-open foil above the reception in a known manner, to the coverring, the bars are rotated upwards because the sealing tool takes overthe securing itself within this step. Because afterwards the cover againforms a closed surface, the securing can again be carried out by meansof low pressure in the lower tool after opening of the pre-sealing tool.Along the next transport step into the position 2 n, a centrallyarranged down holder 6 can take over the securing and afterwards theguidances 5 with bridge 5′ are again used to secure the cover with thepre-sealed foil which is applied to the cover ring. This is also validfor the positions 2 n and 2 o wherein no processing occurs. After thatthe cover reaches the position 2 p respectively the main sealing station13, wherein a securing can be carried out on the one hand by means ofmovable, springy arranged down holders, as shown in FIG. 17 with thedown holders 18 and their springs 19. In the upper tool there may bedischarge handles 12′ securing the cover. Additionally or alternativelya securing by means of low pressure can be carried out, while the downholders are not in action. In the main sealing station the finishingsealing of the tear-open foil to the cover ring is done in a known way,which is familiar to the skilled person. After that, the transport intothe position 2 q is carried out, wherein no processing can be performedand after that into the position 2 r, wherein a cooling of the sealingand an aligning of the tear-open strap of the tear-open foil is carriedout on a turntable in substantially a known way. However a securing ofthe cover takes place on the turntable by means of low pressure orvacuum, respectively. As far as no processing occurs along the transportinto the position 2 q and further into the position 2 r, the securingcan again be carried out by means of the covering 5 with the bridge 5′,which act as unmoved securing elements. If there is an optionalinspection of the sealing joint along this transport path is carried outby means of a checking station 14, the securing is carried out only bymeans of low pressure and the coverings 5 are left out in order for thechecking station to have a free sight from above onto the sealing joint.FIG. 19 shows in section view a sucking in case 60 with openings at itsupper side and an air inlet duct 61 at its lower side, via which thecovers are transported and via which a securing of the covers against atake-off during the transport takes place. In the position 2 r with thecooling of the sealing joint and the aligning of the tear-open strap asecuring against the take-off from the turntable of this processingstation 15 takes place preferably, as mentioned, by means of lowpressure, as can be seen in FIG. 20, which shows the turntable and therespective low pressure connector 63. In the processing station 16respectively in the position 2 s the embossing of the tear-open foil(FIG. 6) takes place, wherein vertically arranged down holders, whichare held in a springy and movable way, are again preferably used for thesecuring. Unmovable guidances can be used for securing during thetransport between the positions 2 r and 2 s. During the furthertransport into the discharge station 17 coverings 5 with bridges 5′ areagain used.

The generation of vacuum or low pressure, respectively, preferably takesplace centrally by means of a vacuum fan and the repartition of the lowpressure by means of pipes into the processing stations respectivelytransport sections. In order to release a cover which is held by lowpressure it can be provided that the low pressure area is connectedunderneath the cover by means of a controlled valve to the ambientpressure or to an air pressure source which generates an over pressure.Thereby the holding respectively the securing by means of low pressureis neutralized fast.

When securing by a vacuum of the cover is mentioned, it is hereinencompassed that this vacuum can be generated by a jet of air as well.Taking into account the situation of FIG. 17 it is possible to eject ajet of air by the central air line 20′ as long as the cover does notseat on the lugs. Thus a stream of air will pass through the gap betweenthe cover and the lugs generating there a zone of lower pressure due tothe higher air velocity in the gap which leads to a seating of the coverinto the lugs. Then the jet of air has to be stopped.

Now, a further aspect of the invention is explained by means of FIG. 21.The Figure shows the two toothed belts 31 and 32 of the transport means,which run parallel and are formed by entraining lugs, with a couple ofthe receptions 40 for the cover blanks respectively covers, which arearranged to them. Now, according to the invention, receptions for twodifferent cover diameters are provided alternatingly one after the otheron the toothed belt, such that for example a lug distance “a” ofassociated entraining lugs, together forming a reception, of for example30 mm, is followed by a lug distance “b” of associated entraining lugs,together forming a reception, of for example 40 mm, and is then followedagain by a lug distance a of 30 mm and again by a lug distance of forexample 40 mm etc. This allows in a simple way and without refitting ofthe transport means, its use for two different diameters of cover blanksrespectively covers. If the apparatus for manufacturing tear-open coversis run for production of covers with the higher of the two diameters,only the receptions with the entraining lugs which are located in alarger mutual distance are loaded with cover blanks by the de-stacker.Accordingly, the transport means carries out each individual step withessentially the double step length, because the receptions with themutually closer located entraining lugs are not used and remain emptyand run through the processing stations without stopping there. If theapparatus for manufacturing covers is used for the production of coverswith the smaller diameter, only the receptions with the mutually closerlocated entraining lugs are loaded with cover blanks. Also in this casethe transport means carries out steps with an essentially double steplength because the respective receptions with the entraining lugs whichare located further from each other are not used and run through theprocessing station without stopping there. In this way two differentcover sizes can be manufactured in the apparatus with the same transportmeans without refitting. The refitting is then limited to the processingstations respectively to the tools used there, as known, however theextensive changing of the toothed belts is omitted.

While there are shown and described presently preferred embodiments ofthe invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention isnot limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied andpractised within the scope of the following claims.

1. Apparatus for the manufacturing of covers with a tear-open foil,comprising a linear transport means for the horizontal transport alongthe manufacturing path, wherein the covers are secured against atake-off in vertical direction along a part of the manufacturing path bya guidance, at least a de-stacker arranged at the beginning of thetransport means, which de-stacks cover blanks from at least a stack anddelivers them to said transport means, a sequence of processing stationswhich is arranged along the transport means, if necessary including aturning station, and a discharge station at the end of the transportmeans; wherein continuously operative securing means for the coversconveyed through the apparatus, from a cover blank to a finished cover,are provided from the de-stacker to the discharge station, whichsecuring means always secure the cover parts against an undesiredtake-off from the transport means.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said securing means are provided by fixed securing elements andby movable securing elements, and particularly also by securing elementswhich act by means of vacuum.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, whereinvacuum and fixed down holders are provided as securing means at thede-stacker.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein movable securingelements are provided as securing means within the processing stations.5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the movable securing elementsare formed by securing elements which are springingly arranged within anupper tool of said processing station or by movable securing elementswhich are arranged within a lower tool of said processing station. 6.Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein movable securing elements areprovided within a cutting station and/or a forming station and/or arolling station and/or an embossing station.
 7. Apparatus according toclaims 1, wherein the securing in an oiling station arranged between acutting station and a forming station is carried out by means of fixedsecuring means, particularly by means of coverings with securing bridgesarranged on both sides of the longitudinal transport axis.
 8. Apparatusaccording to claims 1, characterized in that fixed infeed segments anddischarge segments are provided as securing means within said turningstation.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein fixed and movablesecuring elements are provided at a foil punching and pre-sealingstation.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein within the area ofthe upper sealing tool discharge handles are provided as movablesecuring elements, and down holders are provided as fixed securingelements.
 11. Apparatus according to claims 9, wherein within the lowersealing tool a vacuum is provided as securing means.
 12. Apparatusaccording to claim 11, wherein the securing by vacuum is interruptibleby means of a controlled air supply.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 1,wherein fixed and movable securing elements are provided within a mainsealing station.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein within thearea of the upper sealing tool discharge handles are provided as movablesecuring elements, and down holders are provided as fixed securingelements.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein within the lowersealing tool a securing acting by vacuum is provided.
 16. Apparatusaccording to claim 15, wherein the holding is interruptible by means ofa controlled air supply.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein aninspection station for the checking, particularly for the opticalchecking of the sealing joint is provided, whereby the securing meansare formed by a vacuum guidance.
 18. Apparatus according to claim 1,wherein a cooling and strap aligning station is provided, whereby thesecuring at a lower turntable is provided by holding the cover by meansof vacuum.
 19. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein within thedischarge station covering plates with securing bridges above thetransport plane, arranged on both sides of the longitudinal central axisof the transport means, and at least a middle runner below the transportplane are provided.
 20. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidtransport means is formed by entraining lugs which are arranged atrotating belts, bands or chains, respectively, and that the securing isformed by covering plates with securing bridges showing downwards, whichare arranged on both sides of the longitudinal central axis of thetransport means above the transport plane.
 21. Apparatus according toclaim 20, wherein entraining lugs with mutually different lug distances(a, b) forming a reception, are arranged one after the other on eachside of the longitudinal central axis of the transport means. 22.Apparatus for the manufacturing of covers with a tear-open foil,comprising a linear transport means for the horizontal transport alongthe manufacturing path, which forms receptions for the covers,particularly according to claim 1, wherein entraining lugs with mutuallydifferent lug distances (a, b) forming a reception, are arranged oneafter the other on each side of the longitudinal central axis of thetransport means.
 23. Method for the manufacturing of covers with atear-open foil on a linear manufacturing apparatus, on which the coverblanks and covers are de-stacked and conveyed and at the same time cut,oiled, formed, rolled and then turned, on which the tear-open foil isattached and pre-sealed, a main sealing, if necessary an inspection, acooling, an aligning of the tear-open strap and a checking is carriedout, characterized in that during these steps a securing of the coverblanks respectively covers against an undesired take-off from thetransport means is carried out.
 24. Method according to claim 23 with anapparatus having a linear transport means for the horizontal transportalong the manufacturing path, wherein the covers are secured against atake-off in vertical direction along a part of the manufacturing path bya guidance, at least a de-stacker arranged at the beginning of thetransport means, which de-stacks cover blanks from at least a stack anddelivers them to said transport means, a sequence of processing stationswhich is arranged along the transport means, if necessary including aturning station, and a discharge station at the end of the transportmeans; wherein continuously operative securing means for the coversconveyed through the apparatus, from a cover blank to a finished cover,are provided from the de-stacker to the discharge station, whichsecuring means always secure the cover parts against an undesiredtake-off from the transport means and wherein said securing means areprovided by fixed securing elements and by movable securing elements.25. Method for the manufacturing of covers with a tear-open foil on alinear manufacturing apparatus, on which the cover blanks and covers areconveyed stepwise through a transport means, particularly according toclaim 23, characterized in that entraining lugs with mutually differentlug distances (a, b) forming a reception, are arranged one after theother on each side of the longitudinal central axis of the transportmeans, that cover blanks are only brought into the one type ofreceptions with a larger respectively a smaller distance, and that thetransport means is actuated with the double step width of the transportstep.
 26. Apparatus for the manufacturing of covers with a tear-openfoil, comprising a linear transport means for the horizontal transportalong the manufacturing path, wherein the covers are secured against atake-off in vertical direction along a part of the manufacturing path bya guidance, at least one de-stacker arranged at the beginning of thetransport means, which de-stacks cover blanks from at least a stack anddelivers them to said transport means, a sequence of processing stationswhich is arranged along the transport means, if necessary including aturning station, and a discharge station at the end of the transportmeans; wherein continuously operative securing means for the coversconveyed through the apparatus, from a cover blank to a finished cover,are provided from the de-stacker to the discharge station, whichsecuring means always secure the cover parts against an undesiredtake-off from the transport means; and wherein said securing means areprovided by fixed securing elements and by movable securing elements,and particularly also by securing elements which act by means of vacuum,and wherein vacuum and fixed down holders are provided as securing meansat the de-stacker, and wherein movable securing elements are provided assecuring means within the processing stations, and wherein the movablesecuring elements are formed by securing elements which are springinglyarranged within an upper tool of said processing station or by movablesecuring elements which are arranged within a lower tool of saidprocessing station, and wherein movable securing elements are providedwithin a cutting station and/or a forming station and/or a rollingstation and/or an embossing station, and wherein the securing in anoiling station arranged between a cutting station and a forming stationis carried out by means of fixed securing means, particularly by meansof coverings with securing bridges arranged on both sides of thelongitudinal transport axis, and wherein fixed and movable securingelements are provided at a foil punching and pre-sealing station, andwherein fixed and movable securing elements are provided within a mainsealing station.
 27. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein saidtransport means is provided by entraining lugs arranged on rotatingbelts and said entraining lugs are arranged one after the other on eachside of the longitudinal central axis of said transport means withmutually different lug distances forming a reception for said coverblanks.